Programme director
The Honourable President of the Republic of South Africa, Jacob Gedleyehlekisa Zuma
The Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi
Ministers here present
Deputy Ministers
The MECs of Health present
The Executive Mayor of the Johannesburg Metro, Councillor Amos Masondo
The Chairperson of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Health, Monwabisi Goqwana
The Chairperson of the NCOP Standing Committee on Social Services, RN Rasmeni
Members of the National Assembly and the NCOP
The Director-General of the Health Department, Malebona Matsoso
Heads of Provincial Health Departments
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Allow me, programme director, to extend our warm Gauteng welcome to all the delegates to this National Nursing Summit – the first in the history of a democratic South Africa. The theme for the Summit is very apt: Revitalising the nursing profession for a long and healthy life for all South Africans.
This theme follows from the commitment we made to our people when we went to the polls in 2009. During that period we stated unequivocally that the ANC-led government will, in this term of office, focus on delivering programmes which will ensure, among others, “A long and healthy life for all South Africans”.
We are aware of the challenges and daunting obstacles faced by our health sector and its professional practitioners. I wish to congratulate hundreds of nurses across the country whom, by their own conduct and performance, continue to epitomise the true spirit of the nursing profession.
Many of them continue to go beyond the call of duty to deliver quality health care to their fellow citizens. Their commitment, dedication and personal sacrifices continue to inspire us all.
For this dedicated core nursing remains primarily a calling rather than a lucrative career from which wealth can be derived. In fact, for this dedicated core of nurses, passion for their work counts more than the material benefits it brings.
We are confident that the deliberations which will take place over the next two days will help propel the South African nursing profession to new heights – and return the nursing profession to the lofty position that it always held in our communities.
However, to return to those glory days we should work together to discourage the opportunistic elements who see nursing profession as a last resort when all else has failed. It should – like in the past - draw only the best from our communities. It should attract the most compassionate, the most caring - such as it did when it called on Florence Nightingale, Cecilia Makiwane, Albertina Sisulu, and other giants of our struggle for liberation.
Programme director,
In order to revitalise this critical pillar of our healthcare system; delegates at this summit will have to discuss the following issues in an honest and robust manner:
- Nursing Education and Training
- Nursing practice
- Leadership, governance, policy and legislation
- Ethical and value systems of nursing
- Planning, resourcing and financing nursing
- The role of the nurse in the achievement of positive health outcomes and
- Creating an enabling environment for nursing.
These are by no means easy topics and will require critical engagement if we are to achieve lasting results from this summit.
I must add at this point that as a province, we had already begun the move to revitalise our nursing profession and ensure that it plays a more active role in changing the lives of our people for the better. I am glad to say that through the Nursing Indaba that we held last year – and the recent DENOSA Conference –the majority of our stakeholders in the profession are aware of the importance of their profession and the need to improve the sector.
We noted at both gatherings that the profession had undergone tremendous changes over the past few years and that our nurses, while considered some of the best in the world, needed to be trained properly so that they stay abreast of developments and advances in medical technology and the like. We are happy that stakeholders at those gatherings all agreed with the direction that the healthcare sector was taking under the direction of Dr Motsoaledi and President Zuma.
Without wasting anymore of your precious time; I will be calling on Dr Motsoaledi to introduce President Zuma, our keynote speaker today.
Dankie, ngiyabonga.
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government
